Salvia plant named ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ is disclosed, characterized by having distinctive lavender flowers, a compact, very well-branched plant habit, and early, flowering. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia farinacea.

Variety denomination: ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a spontaneous whole plant mutation bythe inventor, Steve Jones. The parent variety is the unpatented, varietySalvia farinacea ‘Signum.’ The new variety was discovered January 2000,by the inventor in a commercial planting of approximately 100,000 plantsof Salvia farinacea ‘Signum’ in Quillota, Chile.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ byvegetative cuttings was first performed January 2000, at a commercialgreenhouse in Quillota, Chile and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ as anew and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Lavender flowers.    -   4. Early flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ are similar toplants of the parent, Salvia farinacea ‘Signum’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘CATHEDRAL SKYLAVENDER’ are shorter. Additionally, flowers of the parent variety aredark Lavender, to purple whereas, the new variety produces distinct,light lavender flowers, and have a longer panicle.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plant of the new cultivar are best compared to the commercial varietySalvia farinacea ‘CATHEDRAL SKY BLUE,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,929.Plants of the new variety are slightly taller and more spreading.‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ also produces blooms colored more lavender thanblue-lavender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ grown in a greenhouse, inLompoc, Calif., in a commercial 6 inch container. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 20 weeks from an unrooted cutting. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ plants grown in agreenhouse in Lompoc, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C.to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlightconditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia farinacea cultivar ‘CATHEDRAL SKY    LAVENDER.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch pot-   Height: Approximately 17 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 40 cm    to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.-   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free-branching, Approximately 4 primary    branches.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 8 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 cm-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 16.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138 B.        -   Pubescence.—Very slight pubescence.-   Internode length: Approximately 2.5 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, mainly. Many upper nodes have            multiple, single leaves emerging from same node, in an            opposite pattern.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 14 per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Nearly entire, with infrequent dentations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144D.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Begins flowering between 6 and 7 weeks    from planting a rooted cuttings. Flowering continues from early    Spring through late Summer.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on    spikes.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last 5 days on the    plant. Each spike lasts approximately 6 weeks with flowers.-   Quantity of flowers: About 30 buds and 20 fully opened flowers per    lateral branch, at one time.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 16 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Averages 6-8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 79D.        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically            bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper            lip and 3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip.        -   Margin.—Nearly entire, slightly scalloped.        -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip retuse, lower lip tip rounded with            scallops.        -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 0.6 cm, lower lip            Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—Upper lip Approximately 0.4 cm, lower lip            Approximately 1 cm.        -   Petal quantity.—One upper lip and one lower lip with three            lobes. Upper lips are entirely fused at base.        -   Texture.—Upper lip has short, feather-like hairs, lower lip            is smooth and hairless.        -   Aspect.—75 to 90° stem.        -   Petaloids.—Upper lip has 2 petaloids, lower lip has 4            petaloids.        -   Petaloid length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Petaloid diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Petaloid shape.—Irregular ovate.        -   Petaloid color.—Near RHS Violet 85B.-   Color:    -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Apex Near RHS Violet            86C, base Near RHS Violet 85B. Lower surface: Apex Near RHS            Violet 86C, base Near RHS Violet 85D. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near RHS Violet 85C, margins Near RHS Violet 86D.            Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 85C, margins Near RHS Violet            N88B. Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 85A, margins            Near RHS Violet N88B. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 85B,            margins Near RHS Violet N88B.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Violet 86B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 2, fused to form a tube.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Immature: Near RHS Violet 85B. Mature: Near RHS            Violet 86B.        -   Calyx tube color.—Immature: Near RHS Violet 85A. Mature:            Near RHS Violet 86B.        -   Quantity.—2 at the base of each verticillaster.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Tip.—Accuminate.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 86B. Lower surface:            Near RHS Violet 86D.-   Persistence: Non-persistent.-   Fragrance: Very faint fragrance, non aromatic Salvia

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS N155A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Very narrowly elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 79A.        -   Pollen.—Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Color: Near RHS N155A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear, curled. Color: Near RHS N155A. Ovary            color: Near RHS N155A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘CATHEDRAL SKY LAVENDER’ as herein illustrated and described.